Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church was established in August 1959.  Father Michael Manning, a native of Ireland, was our first Pastor.  He previously was assigned to parishes in Savannah, Thomasville and Gainesville.  Father Manning spearheaded the construction of our first parish building.

Saints Peter and Paul received a construction permit from Dekalb County on April 25, 1960 and began construction within one week.

Before the parish buildings were completed on Tilson Road, Mass was held at two other locations.  Our parish’s first Mass was held in the chapel of what was then known as the Horis Ward Funeral Home (today, the site of Lincoln Funeral Home) on Candler Road.  Later, services were held at Gordon High School (now McNair Middle School) on Tilson Road.

The first Mass held at Saints Peter and Paul  was Sunday, December 4, 1960.  The formal dedication of our Church was held on the Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul on January 25, 1961, and the first Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Atlanta, Most Reverend Francis E. Hyland, presided at the dedication.